Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-01-14
AUSTIN LETTER.
The Senate Refuses to Purchase News
pspers-Calhoun and Houston
Exchange Thrusts.
Opinions of Prominent Members OIL
the Article of the Revised Statutes
Regarding Public Aid.
Correspondence of the Gazette.

correspondence OF Tue GdLetLc
AUSTIN, Tex, Jan. 12.-The senate has
settled down to business with an air of
industry that betokens an active and
eyeatful session, and 1t is evident that
they will make a record too, judging from
the manner in which they sat down upon
the resolution offered by Senator SJinson
of Hunt county, TO take fifty copies of
some newspaper publishing g full account
of legislative proceedings. Senator Cal
houn of Esstland county, in an eloquent
and forCibie speech, opposed the adoption
of the resolution. He treated it from a
constitutional standpoint, claiming it an
unauthorized expenditure Of the p ople's
money. During his argument he INDUCED
in some criticisms relative to the press
that was little too severe, especially as
he made no exceptions. No doubt the
able senator from E4stland feels sore
over his last years experience, but he
must remember that there are newfp3-
pers ard there are newspapers, in the
same comparison that there are lawyers
and there are lawyers.
The senator made the point that the
numbers generally voted oy Legislative
bodies are not sufficient to give distri-
button to each members constituency,
from which they could gather on intelli-
gent record of the procee d.
ings. A member from a district
voting 5000 or 1000 would only be
vexed in an attempt to distribute
fifty copies of g newspaper that would
prove satisfactory, much less prove a
source of information to SO large a
constituency, by reason of the necessity
of sending q copy to-day to one and to-
morrow to another living miles apart.
Some good hundred thrusts were
given and taken on both sides of this
debate, and especially between Senators
Calhoun and Houston. In view of the
probability of speedy legislation, relative
to the drouth sufferers, it may not be out
of place to notice the false position taken
over the signature of "Texan" that
appeared in communication
to the Austin Statesman, published in
their issue Of the 18th. 1t appears from
the tenor Of the writer in the communica-
ton referred to that he would charge the
responsibility upon the commissioners
court in each county of relieving and
caring for their own suffering people.
BastDg his argument on false inter
probation of article 1914, 9 of the Re-
vlsed Statutes, he would have the COM
mlssioners' courts 10 levy taxes and issue
scrip payable out of future taxes to meet
the demands for relief to the hundreds of
worthy but unfortunate sufferers.
Were it not for the Importance OF the
matter treated of on the eve of legisla-
tive action, it would re unnecessary to
give the communication in the Statesman
even a passing glance; but for fear that
some one at hssty glance might be lead
to believe that the article referred to
N5l4, - granted the power of levying
taxes for the purpose claimed for il by
"Texan," | send so of the views OF
the article by prominent members. The
legislative brain that conceived the
statute referred to never dreamed OF a
public calamity, but only attempted to
provide q means by which the
commissioners court could take
care of such of its citizens
as became disabled from some pnysCal
disability to earn their living by labor,
and have neither property, friends or
relatives chargeaole with their support.
One member claimed that il was never
intended as q temporary measure, and
cannot be invoked 10 serve the purpose Of
relieving wholesale distress, brought
about by an unforeseen visitation of an
act of providence that becomes q public
calamity. Summed up from the views
taken by these members, the law was in
tended as foundation for poor-hOuSes
and farms, where the ratio Ut po' found
In every county can be provided for ct the
expense of all the citizen.